Harry Nicolaides has been released from his Thai prison cell and is now on his way home. Best wishes to him and his family from New Mandala.
UPDATE. Statement from Forde Nicolaides:
Some fantastic news! Harry was granted a Royal Pardon by his Majesty the King of Thailand on Wednesday afternoon Bangkok time. The Nicolaides family is grateful to his Majesty the King for the decision he has made and to the relevant Thai authorities who dealt with the pardon application in an expeditious manner. Harry has been released from prison and has arrived back in Melbourne today. For a short time, Harry will not be speaking to any media as he will be initially focusing on regaining his health and rejoining with his family in Melbourne.
The last 6 months has been an extremely difficult and trying time for my family and our mission is now accomplished – we brought Harry home. I would sincerely like to thank everyone who has supported the family’s efforts and in assisting with encouraging the Australian government to take affirmative action to secure Harry’s release.
10 responses so far ↓
1 re_fuse // Feb 21, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Congatutations Harry Nicolaides on your release
Thank you to all the people who participated in the email campain to the Australian Prime Minister ,The Australian Embassy in Bangkok,The Royal Thai Embassy Canberra and vairous media outlets.
May you find the peace you deserve Harry and I pray that your mother makes a full recovery.
Steve
2 Michael Secomb // Feb 21, 2009 at 4:29 pm
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25086262-5006785,00.html
This is wonderful.
Could it be that HM’s quick pardon indicates some displeasure with those who have tried to use the les majeste laws to silence political dissent?
After all, those who have misued the les majeste laws for political reasons could themselves be held to be guilty of les majeste, for dragging HM’s name into politics, when he is supposed to be above politics.
Hopefully a lesson has been learnt and the Ahibisit Government will send the signals out to stop misusing the les majeste laws.
Meanwhile, we can celebrate one victory for freedom.
But what about all the other cases, and particularly the Thais accused of les majeste, whose cases will not be publicised internationally? Its tough for them and you gotta feel sad that its come to this…
3 Jim Taylor // Feb 21, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Before we get too carried away with how wonderful Abhisit’s (illegitimate) Government has been for Harry’s freedom, readers should keep in mind that it was Abhisit who proposed harsher punishment last year for Lese Majesty- as a mechanism for getting rid of any “red” opposition. It is odd that when it comes to the Democrat Party people have such short memories.
4 Ralph Kramden // Feb 22, 2009 at 12:46 am
I think that the Australian government should be asked to explain why it took so long to free Harry. None of the immediate press reports question this, and they should. Political Prisoners in Thailand (thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/new-harry-nicolaides-deported/) asks some quite narrow and limited questions but the media should press Smith and Rudd for details and explanations.
5 nganadeeleg // Feb 22, 2009 at 9:48 am
An interesting quote:
Nicolaides’s lawyer, Mark Dean, SC, said his client was locked up as part of a ploy by the former Thai government to appear tough on critics of the country’s monarchy.
“I think it’s fair to say that Harry was a political prisoner, and that the reasons for the commencement of this case against him were inextricably linked to the political crisis in Thailand in August 2008,” Mr Dean said. “But since then, conditions have changed in Thailand, there has been a change of government, and the current Thai Government has done everything it can to support Harry’s case.”
6 Jim Taylor // Feb 22, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Well, then Dean is clearly misinformed. It was actually the Kor Mor Chor in in 2006 that proposed harsher punishments and institutionalised through the courts in agreement backstage with Abhisit. It was Abhisit who again reiterated his support for this increase in surveillance and punishment last year (ostensibly to protect the institution of the monarchy) but realistically as a means of threatening oppositional voices starting of course with the first PPP elected government in 2008.
7 Jeffrey // Feb 22, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Harry is home, and that is great, after spending far too long in terrible conditions of confinement.
It is notable his release comes just prior to the ASEAN Summit.
To detain Harry longer would become a political liability, his usefulness as a tool of the political right has expired.
Nice to tidy this up before the world focusses on ASEAN.
Mr Abhisit is struggling to make his government appear ligitimate.
8 polo // Feb 22, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Jeffrey and others in these pages miss the whole point of Harry’s conviction and imprisonment: it was to send a strong message to foreigners as well as Thais not to cross the line of free discussion of the monarchy. Jufer’s conviction did not have this impact, not adequately anyway. Charges and threats of charges did not have an adequate impact. Internet crackdowns and censorship did not achieve what they wanted. So they had to go farther.
While the palace pretends that its hands are not soiled in this dirty business — allowing all to cheer a “pardon from the king” — in fact their networks make this kind of thing happen, to set an example. Giles also is an example, and I bet they are happy he fled to Britain, avoiding a political trial that would have had to be held in camera or risk embarassing media coverage and court documents flying around that could again incite critical commentary on the monarch.
They have drawn a line of what is absolutely too much. Now we have to wait to see if people close to that line — Sulak, Fahdiawkaan and others — will also be prosecuted. This is not Red vs Yellow: this is the monarchy declaring, disingenuously, “we are above all that crap and all of you stay away from us.”
9 Engr. Dr. // Feb 24, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Congratulations, Harry!
Your story is a triumph of freedom. Now if only I could get a copy of your book…
10 landofsnarls // Feb 25, 2009 at 1:39 am
Engr.Dr. : I don’t wish to diminish your jubilation over Harry’s release (almost everyone, including myself, is pleased), but to call it “a triumph of freedom” is to completely miss the point:his pardon & release were the result of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, & do not signify a change of law or policy in the Thai government. There are others who are unlikely to be be released from much longer gaol terms. They include 2 women. You will find details at http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=928
Additionally, there is a large number of people under investigation & waiting to be charged. (I’ve heard 2 figures, 17 and 30 – maybe someone better informed can update.)
These people are Thai citizens, so they have not attracted the attention of the world’s press to the same degree as Harry, yet they are enduring the same inhuman treatment and conditions, for the ‘crime’ of speaking freely. There are petitions you can sign.
If you really want to read the book, you may find google a useful tool.
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